Blending alt-folk anthemic charm with heavier rock rhythms and quality hooks, L.A.R.P storms into view with the mighty Love Ain’t Gonna Come in The Night, a touch of Ben Caplan to the style, then proceeds through five original tracks that prove equally evocative and performative, but quite boldly unconfined by genre.
Alt Folk
Western country wonder, Latin rock swagger, and vocals that evocatively cut through the noise with unmistakable character and raspy, expressive depth. Billy Ray Norris proves a songwriter unconfined by genre, intent on telling stories, gifting melodies and grooves, across a plethora of different songs and styles.
There’s so much to witness, notice and unpack, but in short, Sad Dad Autumn have settled upon a sound and songwriting approach that’s entirely their own right now. If you’re interested in the feelings and stories of grief, in Greek mythology, the natural world, and the cinematic possibilities of organic music – The Great Dying is a rather spellbinding place to lose yourself for a while.
Folk-punk, blues-rock and Gypsy-jazz brings stories of traditional and modern poetry, as Until They Burn Me launch their sensational, impressively organic, melodic, gritty and infectious new album, A Carnival of Reveries.
Charming creativity gifted songwriting that’s fearlessly confronting and honest. Nathan Stiteler recaptures the artistry of singer-songwriter exploration, with the raw and unique sentiments and stylings of Curse Words (Hopeless, Thoughtless, Fruitless.)
Unconfined by genre is the songwriter who writes because there is no real alternative. The songs are the answers to our inner conflicts and concerns – they provide solace, an outlet, and some kind of clarity, and you can feel that as an observer of Paper Crown. The authenticity is impossible to fake, and the emotion woven into each performance, each original song, reinforces that throughout.
Chaotic folk-punk moving into psychedelic dream pop – the gritty guitar sound, the smoother alternative flair, the colourful structure and storytelling with a twist of darkness. Original melodies and stories bring through an indie freedom grounded by a brilliant hook, as Brighton duo FATECRIMES blend genres with pure artistic commitment, for their latest single SUMMER THUNDER.
The ever-creatively confrontational Ignatious C. Litroc takes things to scornful and stirring new levels, with the politely misleading title and impressively gripping alt-folk single Particles Of.
Acoustic musician and songwriter Summer Redstone leads with a much-welcomed dose of clear authenticity as a modern artist. The sheer feeling and delicate intensity of her two recent singles highlight a sense of talent and purpose in the field, Summer’s voice meandering through long-form melodic musings, backed only by an acoustic guitar, and delivering a fine balance between the familiar and the impressively original.
Jag, Griffin, Luke and Parker make up Chelekis, a four-piece with a shared passion for the process, and that inherent connection that shines brilliantly through the rhythmic unity and celebratory scorn of Problematic.
UK band The Hanging Bandits – a great name and a worthy level of intrigue for the inventive music that follows. Their single, Shipwrecks & Forgetful Skies, is a sensational lyrical and melodic outpouring.
An instantly likable original track, with plenty of personality but also, and quite crucially, an accessible and welcoming musical warmth. Ignatious intrigues, unsettles, and boldly leaves his mark, with Des particules de merde.